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Volume IV, Issue X, May 2009

Message from the Vice President

The Four C's of Student Affairs: Communicate, Connect, Collaborate and Create

So we come to the fourth of the words in our list of C's – Create. As with our other concepts, this one, as discussed throughout the division and captured in words by the writing group, has many layers and different avenues for exploration. (Click for definition of Student Affairs Create). None of these words as we have defined them will be simple to implement. All of them will provide us both opportunities and challenges in our programs and services now and in the future. But I think that of all four words this may be the most loaded.

We all have such varied ideas about what it means to be creative and, oddly for a word so rich with potential, our ideas tend to be limited and limiting. When it comes to drawing, even my stick figures are kinda sad and the list I used to have of ways I'm not creative was nearly endless. Until one day I said something about not being creative in front of my artistic husband, who looked at me in amazement and said, 'what do you mean you aren't creative? When someone brings you a problem, you can come up with 15 different ways to try to solve it. You're one of the most creative people I know.' It turns out it was my definition of creativity that was limiting me, not my actual creativity. Now because I understand creativity so differently, I'm willing to go out on a limb and teach workshops on Creative Leadership.

I still can't draw, but again, Peter tells me that's only because I won't take a course and try to learn, which means it's my fear of failure limiting me more than my ability. I'm not sure he's right about that, but I do know that our fears of failure, ridicule, etc. stop us much more than our abilities. And in our organizations, creativity sometimes gets a bad rap, because creating something new means change. That change could mean our job is different and we were comfortable with the old way. It could mean more work to help a student organization get through all the administrative processes to try something new – just ask Sally Crouser about the car bash at Homecoming.

Creativity can be messy. But messes and problems can also be opportunities to create better ways of doing things. And we always need to be thinking about better ways to do the jobs we do. And we all need to be engaged in the work of creating. And to be truly creative we have to bring our whole self to our work including our fear of drawing sad little stick figures.

Mark Bryan, Julia Cameron, and Catherine Allen in their book The Artist's Way at Work*, put it this way:

If one person in a workplace increases his or her creative voltage, the extra light helps everyone to see more clearly, with greater vision, the work at hand.

We have seen a creative contagion move through a workplace where one person becomes creatively healthy and this … cascades through [the] environment, first to one … colleague and then another, inspiring an ever-widening circle.

An individual cannot be truly authentic in an organization that stifles innovation, and an organization cannot be innovative unless the people involved are allowed to be authentic and creative. If [an organization] is essentially a creative ecosystem, you have within you the power to increase not only your potential but the potential of the entire [university].

So as always it's a two-way street. We need to support creative endeavors for each other as well as our students and we need to stretch our own creative muscles.

Maybe in the next couple of weeks, pick one phrase from our definition of the ways we create excellence in services and programming and try it out. If it doesn't work try another one. If someone in Student Affairs thinks you're making a mess, rocking the boat, remind them that we are all in this together – communicate with them about your idea, find a way to connect with them, see how you might collaborate to make it even better and together we'll create our Division of Student Affairs – making us "a leader in the development of a dynamic and diverse culture that facilitates learning and engages students."

Announcements/Departmental Events

The Alamo Area Chief's Association, in conjunction with The University of Texas at San Antonio Police Department, invites you to the National Police Officer's Memorial Day Ceremony.

Guest speaker will be Special Agent in Charge Ralph Diaz, FBI, San Antonio Office.

The ceremony will commence at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2009, at The University of Texas at San Antonio's Bill Miller Plaza at the Downtown Campus.

Orientation Leaders Graduation Ceremony

Orientation and Family Programs along with the 2009 Orientation Leader Class request the honor of your presence at the OL graduation Ceremony:

Date: Friday, May 29, 2009

Time: 1:15pm-3pm-graduation ceremony

Location: Retama Auditorium, University Center

Reception Immediately Following: The Ballroom, University Center III

Please join members of the university community, family and friends as we recognize each of these student leaders for their academic achievements and diligence in completing the Orientation Leader training course for 2009. We look forward to your attendance.

UCPC Sees Success

In its inaugural year, the University Center Programs Council brought thousands of students to regularly scheduled activities on week nights and weekends in the University Center. In the coming year the UCPC seeks to build on its recent success to expand its membership and program offerings.

The UCPC is a student-run organization that provides opportunities for cultural, educational, social and personal UTSA student growth through activities within the University Center. The Council started in 2008 with five students supported by two full-time staff with more student additions planned for the fall 2009 semester.

"Overall this has been a very successful year for us," said Tabitha Byrne, Assistant Director of programs for the University Center and the UCPC's advisor. "It was important to us to provide variety along with consistency so students could count on the University Center for quick-hits of fun and socializing during the week and on the weekends."

The UCPC organized several event series this past year. Coffee House Wednesdays showcased nationally recognized singer/songwriters in the UC’s fountain courtyard. Open-Mic programs on Thursdays provided a forum for student talents and opinions. UCinema Fridays and Saturdays featured free popcorn and box-office favorites along with a selection of foreign films.

The UCPC also organized after-hours, alcohol-free programs every Saturday in the University Center which included poetry jams with nationally known poets, late-night BBQs, bingo nights and game nights.

"Next year will be even better. We invite any interested student to participate in bringing these and more great programs to the University Center," Byrne said.

In 2009 the UCPC will add regular poetry jams to its events schedule and will explore Texas hold 'em tournaments, casino nights and carnivals. It will also partner with the Campus Activities Board to create "Roadrunners After Dark" – evening and late night activities every Saturday during the academic year.

UTSA Summer Camps

Belinda Saldaña at Community Outreach has been working on a listing of UTSA summer camp programs.

UTSA announces summer youth football camps

Kyle Stephens, Sports Information Director, 05/12/2009

The UTSA football program has announced dates for a pair of camps to be held in San Antonio this summer.The inaugural Larry Coker/UTSA Youth Football Camp will be Thursday-Saturday, June 18-20 at the track and field complex infield on the UTSA Main Campus.

View 'S.A. Living' video of UTSA demo kitchen

Omar Hernandez, Public Affairs Specialist, 05/12/2009

UTSA junior education major Kristen Bird and junior kinesiology major Steven Venegas are full-time students, but one night a week in the UTSA demonstration kitchen they teach their classmates how to live right by eating right. They recently gave a cooking demonstration for WOAI-TV's "San Antonio Living," which aired Monday, May 11.

...In the Recreation and Wellness Center on the Main Campus, the UTSA demo kitchen is one of only two in the nation on a college campus and is fully equipped with oven, refrigerator, sink and assorted cookware.

Can you believe that the academic year is over and we are nine months into our True Colors initiative? How is your department/work team doing in the establishment of a common direction, a common level of engagement & trust, a common language. Use the check-list below to assess your progress at your next staff meeting or gathering.

It's only the beginning. To request a consultation or just want to talk to someone about more ideas send an email VPSA@utsa.edu. We are here to help.

~The Student Affairs Education Team

Learning Outcomes Revisited:

Staff will gain the tools to establish a common language in the work environment.

> How has your department utilized the tools given in the True Colors training?

Staff will be able to apply their learning to the strategic initiatives of the division.

How Do You Show Your True Colors? Tell Us!

The Education Team is interested in hearing how you, your department, office, committee, or work team are showing your true colors and/or how you apply what you have learned through the initiative. Does your office talk about it staff meetings? How did you share your dominant color with one another? Are you part of a blended team that has reached new heights? Did your area benefit from a specific activity or idea?

Share what you've done by emailing VPSA@utsa.edu and you could win! Winning entries will be highlighted in future VPSA newsletters. Submit an entry TODAY!

Thanks, Student Affairs Education Team

Photo Galleries

Educator Career Fair

The Educator Career Fair breaks all attendance records! There were over 95 school districts that came to recruit on campus. We set a new record participant attendance of 717!

The COLFA Career Expo was kicked off by a presentation from Dean Gello. Over 25 organizations visited with students about career opportunities and provided career advice.

Wellness Tips

If possible, avoid the warmest part of the day-exercise before 9 am or after 7 pm.

Wear "breathe-able" fabric. Those cotton shirts and shorts get soggy and don’t allow for airflow!

Start out more slowly than you normally would and exercise for a little less time as you are adjusting to the change in temperature and humidity. Gradually increase both time and intensity as you become used to heat. This usually takes about a week.

Thank You Rowdy

Thank You Rowdy has a special mission in Student Affairs - to travel across UTSA recognizing the good work of staff members. Within the Division of Student Affairs, Thank You Rowdy is presented from one Student Affairs staff member to another in recognition and appreciation of work done well - taking extra assignments to provide support, offering unsolicited assistance, or completing tasks in a unique way. Whatever the situation, contributions like this are made every day and Thank You Rowdy helps us recognize them.

Thank you Rowdy reflects UTSA's spirit of community and reminds us to remember it takes everyone to make UTSA a great place to work and to learn.

- Gage Paine

Thank You Rowdy is presently visiting with
Luna Taroc and Frances Sturchio

The ESC Call Center would like to present you with the "Thank You Rowdy" in appreciation of your hard work and excellence in staff-to-staff customer service. Every time one of our staff calls either you for assistance with admissions processing, you are both so helpful and go above in beyond in answering our questions and addressing our concerns. Not only do we appreciate your service but, in turn, the students we are assisting over the phone appreciate it as well. We know! They’ve told us so! Thank you both, again, for your dedication to helping us help our callers!